Last year, Bandon’s boys track team came up just short of Weston-McEwen when the Tigers’ distance stars weren’t able to put up enough points to overcome the TigerScots’ sprinters.

This year, Bandon will be battling East Linn Christian and going head-to-head with the Eagles in a number of events.

The Class 2A state meet starts Thursday at Hayward Field in Eugene and Bandon will be in the spotlight from the start.

Seniors Hunter Hutton and Josh Snyder will do most of the heavy lifting and Hutton will be a big favorite in the very first event, the 3,000 meters.

Hutton also is defending champion and big favorite in the pole vault Thursday and on Friday he and Snyder have the top two entry times in the 1,500 and Snyder has the best mark in the 800.

Snyder also will line up in the 300 hurdles, an event he chose specifically to get as many points as possible for the Tigers. And Hutton and Snyder hope to also help the Tigers to points in the 4x400-meter relay to close the meet.

Bandon’s best chance for any additional points will come from Isaac Cutler, who is seeded third behind Hutton in the 3,000. Several other Tigers will try to crack the top eight in their events for additional points.

East Linn Christian is in many of the same events as Bandon, though the Eagles also have the favorite in the high jump (Ben Johnson) and two strong hurdlers.

If either Bandon or East Linn Christian slip up, Heppner, Weston-McEwen and Monroe hope to be able to nab the title.

Bandon’s girls don’t figure to challenge for a trophy, but Sailor Hutton, Hunter’s twin sister, will be trying to become a four-time champion in both the 1,500 and 3,000.